Marking stake and carrier

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods are described for marking stakes and carriers. Marking stakes have a body and tab. The body&#39;s proximal end and the tab can be tilted out of a plane containing the remainder of the body so that apertures on the body and the tab register with one another and the body is tensioned substantially upright. The body&#39;s length is sufficient so that when the proximal end is fastened to a mounting surface the distal end is visible. The body may be flexible, avoiding dislodged, broken, bent, or moved stakes and preserving lines, curves, grades, offsets, cuts, and fills. The stake can remain flat when not in use, overcoming the problem of handling and transporting bulky stakes. Marking stake carriers carry lengthy stakes and fasteners and fasten to surveying rods with various diameters, providing a simple and organized method to handle and transport marking equipment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to marking stakes and markingstake carriers. Particularly, it relates to stakes and carriers whichmay be used for establishing lines, curves, grades, offsets, cuts,fills, or the like during marking, surveying, engineering, or othertasks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Marking stakes are often used on construction sites to represent lines,curves, grades, offsets, cuts, and fills. However, such marking stakesare often too short to be visible to users, for example, in fieldsovergrown with grass or weeds. In addition, marking stakes are typicallyconstructed of wood, plastic, or metal and are often rigid. Accordingly,the stakes are often susceptible to being dislodged from the ground,broken, bent, and moved in such a way as to destroy the lines, curves,grades, offsets, cuts, and fills that they represent. The dislodging anddestruction of the stakes from their established positions often becomesa major problem when heavy construction vehicles are in operation in andaround the vicinity in which the stakes are in use. Also, many markingstakes may only be driven into limited types of mounting surfaces.

Further, marking stakes are often bulky and heavy, making it difficultfor marking teams to handle and transport the stakes about a markingsite, such as a surveying site. This latter problem is intensified wherethe stakes are used on difficult terrain where the stakes must becarried to the marking site on foot. Moreover, there is not a simplemethod for marking teams to handle and transport the stakes and othermarking equipment, such as stake fasteners. In addition, aligning anddriving marking stakes is often a tedious and slow process.

Additionally, colored ribbons are often used with marking stakes toindicate different uses. For example, blue ribbons may be used to markwater lines in a survey area and orange ribbons may be used to markelectrical lines in the same survey area. However, the colored ribbonsare often difficult to see and may become detached from the markingstakes, destroying a user's ability to differentiate between thedifferent markings, such as different lines.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a marking stake that islengthy enough to be visible to a user. In addition, there is a need fora marking stake that is not susceptible to being dislodged from theground, broken, bent, or moved in such a way as to destroy the lines,curves, grades, offsets, cuts, and fills that it represents. Further,there is a need for a marking stake that may be driven into almost anytype of mounting surface. There is also a need for a marking stake thatis not bulky and heavy when handled and transported about a markingsite. The need further contemplates a simple method for marking teams tohandle and transport the stakes and other marking equipment. The needalso contemplates a relatively simple and quick method to align anddrive a marking stake. In addition, the need contemplates a highlyvisible method for indicating different markings. Naturally, anyimprovements along such lines should further contemplate goodengineering practices, such as relative inexpensiveness, stability,flexibility, ease of manufacturing, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other problems become solved by applying theprinciples and teachings associated with the hereinafter-describedmethods and apparatus for marking stakes and marking stake carriers.

In a representative embodiment, the marking stake has a body and a tab.The body of the stake defines a plane and includes a proximal end, adistal end, an aperture near the proximal end, and a length, which mayvary. The tab also includes an aperture. The tab may be formed by any ofa variety of methods. For example, the tab may be die cut from the bodyof the stake. Composition materials for the stake include, but are notlimited to, Correx®, rigid polymers, wood, cardboard, compositematerials, and the like.

The stake may be any of a variety of colors, including, but not limitedto, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, and the like. Also, thestake may be substantially a uniform color or may include a variety ofcolors, and the stake may be partially or entirely colored. Further,differently colored marking stakes may correspond to different uses,eliminating the need for colored ribbons to indicate different uses. Forexample, blue marking stakes may be used to mark water lines in a surveyarea and orange marking stakes may be used to mark electrical lines inthe same survey area. In this respect, different markings may be made inthe same area without using colored ribbons. In addition, thedifferently colored stakes are more visible than colored ribbons, whichare often difficult to see and may become detached from the markingstakes.

During use, the body of the stake is folded to tilt the proximal end andthe tab out of the plane containing the remainder of the body. In turn,a user registers with one another the apertures on the body and the tab,and a fastener is driven through the apertures and into a mountingsurface. Accordingly, the body is tensioned in a substantially uprightorientation so that users can see it from a distance. In other words,the tab acts as a guy-wire of sorts to support the stake in an uprightposition. In this manner, the stake may be aligned and driven into avariety of mounting surfaces relatively quickly and easily.

The fastener can take the form of any of a variety of devices, such as amagnetic nail, a gutter spike, a roofing nail, a tack, a wooden stake,or the like. In certain embodiments, the aperture in the tab may beformed prior to driving the fastener through the tab, and the aperturein the body may be formed prior to driving the fastener through thebody. In other embodiments, the fastener may be used to create theaperture in the tab and/or body. In still other embodiments, the taband/or body may have a small hole or dimple, and the fastener may simplyexpand the small hole or dimple. That is, the tab and/or body may have asmall hole with a diameter, and the fastener, having a diameter largerthan that of the small hole, may be driven through the small hole toexpand the diameter of the small hole.

In certain embodiments, the fastener may be used to create a hole in themounting surface or may fill a hole during driving. For example, theforce of a hammer driving a nail into a surface may create a hole, or asmall hand drill can be used to pre-drill a hole into virtually anymounting surface, such as, solid rock, concrete, coal, pavement, a carhood, or the like.

The length of the stake body is sufficient so that when the proximal endis fastened to a mounting surface the distal end can be viewed by auser, for example, in a field overgrown with weeds and grass.Accordingly, the present invention addresses the need for a markingstake that is lengthy enough to be visible to a user. In addition, thebody of the stake may be relatively flexible. In this manner, the bodymay fold, tilt, or the like, and the stake is not susceptible to beingdislodged from the ground, broken, bent, or moved in such a way as todestroy the lines, curves, grades, offsets, cuts, and fills that itrepresents.

Other features of the stake contemplate graduations or the capability toreceive writing, which may serve any of a variety of functions. Forexample, desired grade levels may be marked on graduations on the staketo indicate an amount of land fill or cut to be made at the pointindicated by the stake. Also, features of the stake contemplateadvertising on the stake.

Still other features contemplate an aperture, such as a circular hole,near the distal end of the body of the stake, and an indicator that maybe extended through the aperture. The indicator may be any of a varietyof devices, such as a piece of string, a cloth flag, a plastic ribbon,or the like. In this manner, a cloth flag or plastic ribbon may beplaced through the aperture to make the stake highly visible at a greatdistance, or a string may be placed through the apertures in severalstakes to further assist in visualizing a marked area, such as a floorplan or a sewer or water line.

Also, the stake may include a transverse tear line near the proximal endof the body, formed, for example, by a series of aligned perforations.The tear line permits a portion of the body near the distal end to betorn away, as when the stake is struck by a lawnmower blade or thetreads or wheels of a vehicle, so that a remainder of the body near theproximal end, the tab, and the fastener, will not be dislodged from themounting surface to cause a loss of the desired point as marked. In thismanner, the present invention further overcomes the problem of markingstakes susceptible to being dislodged from the ground, broken, bent, ormoved in such a way as to destroy the lines, curves, grades, offsets,cuts, and fills that they represent.

When the stake is not in use, it can remain flat, overcoming the priorart problems of handling and transporting bulky stakes. In this manner,a series of stakes may lie in flat, lightweight stacks and may behand-carried readily in the field by a marking team.

In a representative embodiment, the marking stake carrier has a firstportion, a second portion, and an adjustable fastener. The first portionis for carrying the marking stakes and has a volume and a lengthsufficient to accommodate carrying substantially a full length of thelengthy marking stakes. The second portion is for carrying the markingstake fasteners and has a volume substantially less than the volume ofthe first portion. The first and second portions may take the form ofany of a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, cylindrical,cubical, rectangular, oblong, and the like. Also, the adjustablefastener is capable of fastening to a surveying rod with variousdiameters and may take a variety of forms, such as Velcro® strips,adjustable buckles, buckles with adjustable straps, or the like.Composition materials for various portions of the carrier include, butare not limited to, nylon, cotton, polyester, textile blends, rigidpolymers, flexible polymers, composite materials, and the like. Methodsof attachment for various parts of the carrier include, but are notlimited to, integral formation, sewing, gluing, stapling, and the like.

Altogether, the first portion, second portion, and adjustable fastenerform an all-in-one carrier capable of simultaneously carrying thelengthy marking stakes and marking stake fasteners and of fastening tosurveying rods with various diameters. As a result, the carrieraddresses the need for a simple and organized method to handle andtransport stakes and other marking equipment. Further, a series ofstakes can be placed in the carrier, as the stakes are adapted to lie inflat, lightweight stacks. In this manner, the carrier and the stake ofthe present invention further address the need for a simple method tohandle and transport stakes. Optionally, a third portion may be sizedand shaped to carry a writing utensil. Various handles, shoulder straps,etc. may also be adorn the carrier to facilitate transporting thecarrier and its contents.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will be set forthin the description which follows, and in part will become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the followingdescription of the invention and referenced drawings or by practice ofthe invention. The claims, however, indicate the particularities of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 a is a front view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing a marking stake;

FIG. 1 b is a partial front view in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention showing a bottom portion of the marking stake of FIG.1 a;

FIG. 2 a is an angled front view in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention showing the bottom portion of the marking stake ofFIG. 1 a during use, with a tab slightly tilted;

FIG. 2 b is a side view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing the marking stake of FIG. 1 a, about to be fastened toa mounting surface;

FIG. 2 c is a front view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing the marking stake of FIG. 1 a, fastened to themounting surface;

FIG. 2 d is a side view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing the marking stake of FIG. 1 a, fastened to themounting surface;

FIG. 3 is an angled front view in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention showing a marking stake carrier;

FIG. 4 is a front view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing a marking stake with graduations;

FIG. 5 is a front view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing a marking stake capable of receiving writing;

FIG. 6 is a front view in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention showing a marking stake with advertising;

FIG. 7 a is an angled front view in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention showing a top portion of a marking stake with anaperture; and

FIG. 7 b is an angled front view in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention showing a bottom portion of a marking stake with atear line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments inwhich the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention and like numerals represent like details in the variousfigures. Also, it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that process, mechanical and/or other changes may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus arehereinafter described for marking stakes and carriers.

FIG. 1 a illustrates a representative embodiment of a marking stake 10of the present invention, including a body 100 and a tab 110. The body100 defines a plane and includes a proximal end 150, a distal end 160,and an aperture 140 near the proximal end. In addition, the body 100includes a length D₁₀, which may vary. The length D₁₀ is sufficient sothat when the proximal end 150 is fastened to a mounting surface thedistal end 160 can be viewed by a user. In certain embodiments, thelength is sufficient so that when the proximal end is fastened to amounting surface the distal end is visible even in an overgrown fieldwith weeds and grass. Also, in certain embodiments, the length D₁₀ maybe approximately 32 inches. Many other lengths are possible in otherembodiments.

The body 100 may also include a width D₁₂, which may vary. In certainembodiments, the width D₁₂ may be approximately 1.5 inches. Many otherwidths are possible in other embodiments. Also, the body may berelatively flexible and may take the form of any of a variety of shapes,including, but not limited to, rectangular, square, oblong, and thelike.

Turning to FIG. 1 b, the tab 110 includes an aperture 130. The tab maybe formed by any of a variety of methods. In certain embodiments, thetab may be die cut from the body of the stake. In other embodiments, thetab may integrally formed with the body portion. In still otherembodiments, the tab may be attached to the body portion. Methods ofattachment include, but are not limited to, gluing, stapling, nailing,and the like.

In addition, the tab 110 may include a length D₁₆ and a width D₁₈, whichmay vary. In certain embodiments, the length D₁₆ may be approximately1.5 inches and the width D₁₈ may be approximately 0.5 inch. Many otherlengths and widths are possible in other embodiments. Also, the tab maytake the form of any of a variety of shapes, including, but not limitedto, rectangular, square, oblong, and the like.

Composition materials for the stake 10 include, but are not limited to,Correx®, rigid polymers, wood, cardboard, composite materials, and thelike. In certain embodiments, the body of the stake may be cut fromcommercial sheets of Correx® measuring 4 feet by 8 feet. In suchembodiments, three rows of multiple stake bodies, each stake body havinga length of 32 inches, may be easily cut from each sheet.

The stake 10 may be any of a variety of colors, including, but notlimited to, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, and the like.Also, the stake may be substantially a uniform color or may include avariety of colors, and the stake may be partially or entirely colored.Further, differently colored marking stakes may correspond to differentuses, eliminating the need for colored ribbons to indicate differentuses. For example, blue marking stakes may be used to mark water linesin a survey area and orange marking stakes may be used to markelectrical lines in the same survey area. In this respect, differentmarkings may be made in the same area without using colored ribbons. Inaddition, the differently colored stakes are more visible than coloredribbons, which are often difficult to see and may become detached fromthe marking stakes.

Turning to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, and 2 d, a representative use of themarking stake 10 is illustrated. During use, the body 100 is foldedalong a line 120 to tilt the proximal end 150 and the tab 110 out of theplane containing the remainder of the body. In turn, a user registerswith one another the apertures 130 and 140, and a fastener 210 is driventhrough the apertures 130 and 140 and into a mounting surface 220.Accordingly, the body is tensioned in a substantially uprightorientation so that users can see it from a distance. In other words,the tab acts as a guy-wire of sorts to support the stake in an uprightposition. In this manner, the stake may be aligned and driven into avariety of mounting surfaces relatively quickly and easily.

The fastener 210 can take the form of any of a variety of devices, suchas a magnetic nail, a gutter spike, a roofing nail, a tack, a woodenstake, or the like. In certain embodiments, the aperture 130 may beformed prior to driving the fastener through the tab, and the aperture140 may be formed prior to driving the fastener through the body. Inother embodiments, the fastener may be used to create the aperture inthe tab and/or body. In still other embodiments, the tab and/or body mayhave a small hole or dimple, and the fastener may simply expand thesmall hole or dimple. That is, the tab and/or body may have a small holewith a diameter, and the fastener, having a diameter larger than that ofthe small hole, may be driven through the small hole to expand thediameter of the small hole.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the fastener 210 may be used tocreate a hole in the mounting surface 220. In other embodiments, thefastener may fill a hole during driving. For example, the force of ahammer driving a nail into a surface may create a hole, or a small handdrill can be used to pre-drill a hole into virtually any mountingsurface, such as, solid rock, concrete, coal, pavement, a car hood, orthe like.

As mentioned above, the length of the body is sufficient so that whenthe proximal end is fastened to a mounting surface, the distal end isvisible to a user, for example, in an overgrown field with weeds andgrass. Accordingly, the present invention addresses the need for amarking stake that is lengthy enough to be visible. Also, as the body ofthe stake may be relatively flexible, the body may fold, tilt, or thelike, and the stake is not susceptible to being dislodged from theground, broken, bent, or moved in such a way as to destroy the lines,curves, grades, offsets, cuts, and fills that it represents.

Further, the stake can remain flat when it is not in use, overcoming theprior art problems of handling and transporting bulky stakes. In thismanner, a series of stakes can lie in flat, lightweight stacks and behand-carried readily in the field by a marking team.

Turning to FIG. 3, a representative embodiment of a marking stakecarrier 300 of the present invention is illustrated. The carrierincludes a first portion 310, a second portion 320, and an adjustablefastener 360. Composition materials for various portions of the stakecarrier include, but are not limited to, nylon, cotton, polyester,textile blends, rigid polymers, flexible polymers, composite materials,and the like. Also, methods of attachment for various parts of thecarrier include, but are not limited to, integral formation, sewing,gluing, stapling, and the like.

The first portion 310 of the carrier is for carrying marking stakes,such as the marking stake 10 (from FIG. 1 a). The first portion 310 hasa volume and a length D₃₁, which both may vary. The length D₃₁ issufficient to accommodate carrying substantially a full length oflengthy marking stakes. In certain embodiments, the length D₃₁ may beabout 32 inches to accommodate marking stakes of about that length. Inother embodiments, the length may be about 36 inches to accommodatemarking stakes of about that length. In still other embodiments, thelength may be about 12 inches to accommodate marking stakes of aboutthat length. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many otherlengths are possible in other embodiments. Also, the first portion maytake the form of any of a variety of shapes, including, but not limitedto, cylindrical, cubical, rectangular, oblong, and the like.

The second portion 320 is for carrying marking stake fasteners and isconnected to the first portion 310. The second portion has a volume,which may vary. The volume of the second portion is substantially lessthan the volume of the first portion. In certain embodiments, the volumeof the second portion may be sufficient to accommodate about 50 magneticnails. In other embodiments, the volume of the second portion may besufficient to accommodate large spikes. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that many other volumes are possible in other embodiments.Also, the second portion may take the form of any of a variety ofshapes, including, but not limited to, cylindrical, cubical,rectangular, oblong, and the like.

The second portion may have a length D₃₅. In certain embodiments, thelength D₃₅ may be between about 6 and 8 inches. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate that many other lengths are also possible in otherembodiments. Also, in certain embodiments, some of the individualdimensions of the second portion may be greater than, equal to, orsmaller than some of the individual dimensions of the first portion,even though the overall volume of the second portion is less than theoverall volume of the first portion. For example, in certainembodiments, the width of the second portion may be equal to the widthof the first portion. In other embodiments, the width of the secondportion may be smaller than the width of the first portion. In stillother embodiments, the width of the second portion may be greater thanthe width of the first portion.

The adjustable fastener 360 is provided to fasten the carrier to asurveying rod 370 with various diameters. The adjustable fastener may beconnected to the first portion or the second portion and may take avariety of forms, such as Velcro® strips, adjustable buckles, buckleswith adjustable straps, or the like.

In this manner, the first portion, second portion, and adjustablefastener form an all-in-one carrier 300 capable of simultaneouslycarrying the lengthy marking stakes and marking stake fasteners and offastening to surveying rods with various diameters. As a result, thecarrier addresses the need for a simple and organized method to handleand transport stakes and other marking equipment. Further, a series ofstakes, such as the stake 10 (from FIG. 1 a), can be placed in thecarrier, as the stakes are adapted to lie in flat, lightweight stackswhen not in use. In this manner, the carrier and stake of the presentinvention further address the need for a simple method to handle andtransport stakes.

In certain embodiments, the carrier 300 may also include a third portion330. The third portion 330 may be connected to any other part of thecarrier. For example, in certain embodiments, the third portion 330 maybe connected to the second portion 320. Also, in certain embodiments,the third portion may be a sub-portion of the second portion and share acommon bottom and common walls on the exterior of the carrier with thesecond portion.

The third portion may have a volume substantially less than the volumeof the second portion and may be used to carry writing utensils, such asa felt tip marker. In addition, the third portion may take the form ofany of a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, cylindrical,cubical, rectangular, oblong, and the like.

In certain embodiments, the carrier 300 may also include a lid 340 toclose part or all of the carrier and to keep the elements out of part orall of the carrier. The lid may be connected to any other part of thecarrier, including, but not limited to, the first portion, the secondportion, and/or the third portion. Also, the lid may take the form ofany of a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, square,circular, oval, rectangular, oblong, and the like.

In addition, a fastening piece 350 may be fixed to the outer surface ofthe lid 340, and another fastening piece 351 may be fixed to anotherpart of the carrier, such as the third portion 330. In this manner, thefastening pieces 350 and 351 secure the lid in the closed position. Thefastening pieces 350 and 351 may take any of a variety of forms, suchas, pieces of Velcro®, a hook and loop, a button and hole, snaps, clips,buckles, or the like.

In certain embodiments, the carrier 300 may also include a carryinghandle 380 or a shoulder strap 390 to assist with transporting thecarrier and its contents, during surveying, for example. The handle orshoulder strap may be connected to any other part of the carrier,including, but not limited to, the first portion, the second portion,and/or the third portion.

Turning to FIG. 4, in certain embodiments, the marking stake 10 mayinclude graduations 410 on a surface 105. The graduations 410 may extendalong the width of the body 100, such as along an edge 106 of the body.Also, the graduations 410 may be centered upon and extend outward oneither side of a centerline 430 of the body 100. Among other purposes,the graduations 410 permit a survey instrument operator to find thecenterline 430 when the centerline is hidden from the instrumentoperator's view because of the operator's line of vision with respect tothe surface of the body. For example, by knowing that there are fiveequally spaced graduations on either side of the centerline, an operatorcan measure the precise amount of angular turn of the instrument betweensuccessively spaced graduations and thus estimate with a high degree ofprecision the precise position of the hidden centerline.

The graduations 410 also enhance the ability of a surveyor to surveyextremely precise straight lines over long distances such as is oftenrequired in highway survey work by the well known procedure of doublecentering. As is known, the double centering procedure tends to reduceerrors of alignment which always occur when extending a survey line froma back sight relative to a surveyor's instrument through a vertical arcto a forward sight position as the result of inherent inaccuracies ormisalignment of the instrument itself. The graduations 410, extendinglaterally from the centerline 430, permit the instrument operator tomore accurately split the difference in the instrument alignmentobserved to occur between successive back and forward sightings takenpursuant to the double centering procedure.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the marking stake 10 may includegraduations 420 on the surface 105. The graduations 420 may extend alongthe length of the body 100, such as along an edge 107 of the body. Thegraduations shown in FIG. 4 are calibrated in tenths and hundredths of afoot as is usually preferred by engineers and surveyors in this countryat the present time. However, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the particular calibrations of the graduations are a matter ofchoice depending in part upon the use and purpose to which the stake isto be applied. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat many other calibrations of the graduations are possible. Forexample, in certain embodiments, the graduations may be calibrated ininches and tenths of inches.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in certain embodiments, it is possible toprint or write on the surface 105. The printing or writing may besubstantially permanent. Also, printability and writability of the stakemay be achieved in a variety of ways. In certain embodiments, thematerial of the stake is a printable and/or writable material, such asCorrex®, cardboard, or the like. Additionally, in certain embodiments,the stake may be rough textured rather than smooth to further facilitatemaking marks thereon with ink, pencil, or other types of markingmaterial.

Printing or writing on the stake can serve many functions. In certainembodiments, writing may be used to indicate a specific line beingmarked, such as a water line, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In otherembodiments, writing may be used to mark the centerline 430 (from FIG.4) in a suitable dark ink when the stake is used with a surveyorinstrument for backsighting or for turning and ascertaining angles.

In yet other embodiments, desired grade levels on the scale of thegraduations 420 (from FIG. 4) may be marked to indicate an amount ofland fill or cut to be made at the point indicated by the stake. In thismanner, a surveyor may readily simplify the calculation of cut or fillto be made by a contractor at or near the point marked by indicatingwith a suitable marking pen the precise level on the scale from which avertical cut or fill is to be made. By selecting the precise andappropriate level on the scale, the surveyor can indicate to thecontractor cuts or fills at each point marked in terms of whole numbersof feet rather than feet and fractional parts of feet. For example,suppose the stake is attached by a tack to a wood grade hub stake at apoint a precise selected horizontal distance from where a cut is to bemade in the earth. Suppose further that the precise vertical cut to bemade between the top of the hub stake to the planned finished grade is3.30 feet. The surveyor could mark the scale at 0.7 feet above the topof the hub, draw an arrow to the mark, and indicate behind the arrow“Cut-4.00”. At the same time, the surveyor can mark the top of the staketo indicate the precise horizontal offset distance between the hub andthe line along which the desired cut is to be made.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in certain embodiments, the stake 10 mayinclude advertising 610 on the surface 105. In certain embodiments, theadvertising may be printed directly on the material of the stake. Inother embodiments, the advertising may be printed on a label that isaffixed to the stake. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatother methods of including advertising are also possible in otherembodiments.

Turning to FIG. 7 a, in certain embodiments, the stake 10 may include anaperture 710 near the distal end of the body. The aperture 710 may takeany of a variety of forms, such as a circular hole, straight slit,sawtoothed slit, jagged hole, or the like. In certain embodiments, theaperture may be a jagged or sawtoothed slit so as to securely grip acloth flag or plastic ribbon. In such embodiments, the teeth grip a flagor ribbon more firmly when the flag or ribbon is pulled, making it lesslikely that the same will be dislodged from the sawtooth slit by windand weather than where the aperture is a simple, straight, transverseslit.

Accordingly, in certain embodiments, an indicator 720 may be extendedthrough the aperture 710. The indicator 720 may be any of a variety ofdevices, such as a piece of string, a cloth flag, a plastic ribbon, orthe like. For example, a cloth flag or plastic ribbon may be placedthrough the aperture to make the stake highly visible at a greatdistance. In another example, string may be placed through the aperturesin several stakes to further assist in visualizing a marking area, suchas a floor plan or a sewer or water line. In yet another example, both apiece of string and a cloth flag may be placed through the apertures inseveral stakes to further assist in marking an area.

The indicator 720 may also be any of a variety of colors, including, butnot limited to, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, and the like.Further, differently colored indicators may correspond to differentuses. For example, blue indicators may be used to mark water lines in asurvey area and orange indicators may be used to mark electrical linesin the same survey area. In this respect, different markings may be madein the same area.

In other embodiments, a carrying ring or other carrying device may beextended through the aperture 710 to facilitate carrying the stake. Inthis manner, several stakes may be easily carried at the same time.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 b, in certain embodiments, the stake 10 mayinclude a suitable transverse tear line 730 formed near the proximal endof the body 100. The tear line 730 permits a portion of the body nearthe distal end 160 to be torn away, as when the stake is struck by thetreads or wheels of a vehicle, so that a remainder of the body near theproximal end 150, the tab 110, and the fastener 210, will not bedislodged from the mounting surface 220 to cause a loss of the desiredpoint as marked. For example, a lawn mower blade may strike a portion ofthe body above the level of the tear line. In such cases, the blade willusually cause the portion of the body near the distal end to be tornaway along the tear line before the fastener is dislodged from theground, thus avoiding loss of the marked position. In this manner, thepresent invention further overcomes the problem of marking stakessusceptible to being dislodged from the ground, broken, bent, or movedin such a way as to destroy the lines, curves, grades, offsets, cuts,and fills that they represent. Also, the tear line 730 may be formed inany suitable and well known manner, such as by means of a series ofaligned perforations, a weakened line, or the like.

Finally, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additionalembodiments are also possible without departing from the teachings ofthe present invention. This detailed description, and particularly thespecific details of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, is givenprimarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitationsare to be implied, for modifications will become obvious to thoseskilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Relatively apparentmodifications, of course, include combining the various features of oneor more figures with the features of one or more of other figures.

1. A marking stake, comprising: a body substantially defining a plane,said body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body having afirst aperture near said proximal end, and said body having a lengthsufficient so that when said proximal end is fastened to a mountingsurface said distal end can be viewed by a user; and a tab with saidbody, said tab having a second aperture, wherein said first aperture andsaid second aperture can register with one another during use by tiltingsaid proximal end out of the plane containing a remainder of said bodythereby tensioning said body in a substantially upright orientationduring use.
 2. The marking stake of claim 1, wherein said lengthcomprises at least 32 inches.
 3. The marking stake of claim 1, whereinsaid tab is defined by a cut in said body.
 4. The marking stake of claim1, wherein said stake is formed from Correx material.
 5. The markingstake of claim 1, wherein said stake is substantially a uniform color.6. The marking stake of claim 1, wherein a fastener is used to createsaid first aperture and said second aperture.
 7. The marking stake ofclaim 1, further comprising graduations along a surface of said body. 8.The marking stake of claim 1, further comprising graduations extendingalong said length of said body.
 9. The marking stake of claim 1, whereina surface of said stake is capable of receiving a writing by a userduring use so that said writing is substantially permanent.
 10. Themarking stake of claim 1, further comprising advertising on a surface ofsaid stake.
 11. The marking stake of claim 1, wherein said body furthercomprises a third aperture formed near said distal end.
 12. The markingstake of claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a tear line formednear said proximal end.
 13. A marking stake carrier, comprising: a firstportion for carrying lengthy marking stakes, said first portion having afirst volume and a length, said length sufficient to accommodatecarrying substantially a full length of said lengthy marking stakes; asecond portion for carrying marking stake fasteners, said second portionconnected to said first portion and said second portion having a secondvolume, said second volume substantially less than said first volume;and an adjustable fastener capable of fastening to surveying rods withvarious diameters, said fastener connected to said first portion or saidsecond portion, wherein said first portion, said second portion, andsaid fastener form an all-in-one carrier capable of simultaneouslycarrying said lengthy marking stakes and said marking stake fastenersand capable of fastening to said surveying rods.
 14. The marking stakecarrier of claim 13, further comprising a third portion connected tosaid second portion, said third portion having a third volume, saidthird volume substantially less than said second volume.
 15. The markingstake carrier of claim 13, further comprising a carrying handleconnected to said first portion or said second portion.
 16. The markingstake carrier of claim 13, further comprising a shoulder strap connectedto said first portion or said second portion.
 17. The marking stakecarrier of claim 13, further comprising a lid to close said carrier andto keep the elements out of said carrier.
 18. The marking stake carrierof claim 13, wherein said first portion and said second portion aresubstantially cylindrical.
 19. A method for erecting a marking stake,comprising: providing a marking stake with a body defining a plane, saidbody having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first aperture near saidproximal end, and a tab with said body, said tab having a secondaperture; tilting said proximal end out of said plane containing aremainder of said body; tensioning said body in a substantially uprightorientation; and driving a fastener through said first aperture and saidsecond aperture.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said tensioningfurther comprises registering said first aperture with said secondaperture.